Dharmendra’s quiet funeral was family’s decision, says Hema Malini: ‘Final days were cruel; couldn’t bear…’

Filmmaker Hamad Al Reyami shared his conversations with Dharmendra's second wife Hema Malini and his sons Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol.

Bollywood actor Dharmendra passed away on November 24. (Credit: Facebook/@Dharmendra)

Dharmendra’s death left a deep void in the Hindi film industry, with many actors visiting his family to pay their last respects. Recently, filmmaker Hamad Al Reyami shared his conversations with Dharmendra’s second wife Hema Malini and his sons Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol from his first marriage to Prakash Kaur at the two prayer meets organised by the respective families.

Hema Malini said Dharmendra’s quiet and quick funeral was a decision of his family

Hamad shared his conversation with Hema Malini at the prayer meet on Instagram, during which the actor addressed Dharmendra not getting a public farewell but a quiet and quick funeral, and how this decision was “in the hands of the family.”

He wrote: “She said to me in a mocking voice: ‘I wish I was at the farm the same day I was with Dharminder two months ago… Hope to have seen him there.’ And she told me how she always said to Dharminder: ‘Why don’t you publish your beautiful poems and writings?’ And he was answering it: ‘Not now… lemme finish some poems first.’ But time did not slow him down, and flew away… And she said to me bitterly: ‘Now the strangers will come… They’ll write about it, they’ll write books… While his words he has not seen light.’ ”

He added, “She then added with deep sadness that she was sorry his fans didn’t get a chance to see him one last time. And she said to me in a loving mother tone: ‘Dharminder throughout his life never wanted to be seen weak or sick. He was hiding his pain even from the closest people. After the person leaves, the decision remains in the hands of the family.’”

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ALSO READ | Dharmendra’s mom met Hema Malini secretly; Prakash Kaur shared she ‘understands’ what Hema went through

‘His final days were cruel’

Hema also shared with Hamad that Dharmendra’s final days were “cruel.” He wrote, “And then I paused for a while… I wiped her tears … and she said to me clearly: ‘But what happened was mercy… Because Hamad you couldn’t bear to see him like that. His final days were cruel… Hurtful… And even we can barely bear to see it like that.’ Her words were like arrows… Hurtful and true.”

Hamad also recalled meeting Esha Deol in another Instagram post. He wrote, “Esha said to me: “You are lucky, Hamad… But I envy you because you were the last to meet my father in his last days, just two months before he died. ” I was touched by her words and said to her: “You have the same way as your father… The same tone … The same soul. ” I was very happy, and when I was leaving she said to me in Arabic: Good bye.”

Crying Bobby Deol consoled Hamad, Sunny called father ‘great man’

Hamad also recalled his meeting with Bobby and Sunny Deol, who appeared heartbroken to him. “The first to greet me was Bobby Deol, with a look filled with heartbreak and sadness. I could not contain myself… I cried in front of him unwillingly, so he approached me and held me while he’s crying too. I said to him with a broken voice: “I am sorry… I can’t even look at the walls in this house. How do you handle this pain? ” He answered me with a silent hurt look, but it held a thousand words.”

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Hamad recalled meeting Sunny, who also remembered his father and called him a “great man.” “Then Sunny Deol came, took my hand, sat me down and said to me: “Drink some water… Cool down a little bit.” I would look at him and say: “Your dad is the reason I am… He is the one who instilled in me the love of art, since my childhood. ” He answered me with a painful silence: “This is my father… Such a great man. And I knew how much he loved you ”. But my heart could not take…. I said to him: “Sorry… I just can’t hang on. Please greet your mother she knows me well,” he said.”